Wheat roots' mechanical action alters soil water, impacting crop growth.
The study looked at how wheat roots affect the way soil holds water. By planting wheat at different densities in soil columns, researchers found that the roots' mechanical action changed the soil's water-holding capacity. The roots affected the soil's water supply capability and the amount of water it could hold. Higher planting density led to differences in water supply capacity between soil layers. This shows that the way wheat roots grow and spread can impact how soil holds and supplies water.